Log house



March 21, 1933. H MUFFLEY ET AL 1,902,3Q9

LOG HOUSE Filed Jan. 51, 1 50 5 Sheets-Shet 1 In ven tons MeeY/i. MUFFLEY EDWA e0 ftMcL EEE March H. A. MUFFLEY El AL LOG HOUSE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Jan.

b flmezr MUFFLEY Eovvneo EMCLEEE March 21, 1933.

H. A. MUFFLEY ET AL LOG HOUSE Filed Jan.

51, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fweuionr fikzzv A. MI/FEL EY fife/'12 e9 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED \STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY A. MUFFLEY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND EDWARD II. MOLE-ER, OF GORDON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO LOG COTTAGE COMPANY, OF MINNEAIOLIB, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA LOG HOUSE Application riled January 31, 1931' Serial No. 424,942.

This invention relates towall constructions for wooden or metal buildings or for buildings' constructed of any material, and 1ts main object is to provide a cheap and durable weather and air-tight construction which simulates exteriorly as well as interiorly the wall of a log cabin, and to form an air and water tight structure without the use of plastic-material to closethe joints. An important object is to obtain whole log effects by the use of log segments equal to or less than half logs, and to form such a wall solely by directly connecting the log segments, all without the use of studding or chinking. Another object is to provide wall and roof constructions by the use of log segments in which both inside and outside surfaces simulate a log structure, and which are formed by overlapping log segments, the adjacent overlapped sections having plane faces which are flatly engaged, and having outer curved faces respectlvely facing in opposite directions, forming inner and outer series of longitudinally abutted members. Another-object is to make a log house construction without the use of studdings. Another object is to provide improved'window and door framing structures. Another object is to provide various constructions applicable and for the most part necessary to produce a structure which simulates inside as well as outside a log house, that is a complete dwelling having its walls completely formed by log segments. with the logs overlapped and their convexed faces alternately faced in opposite directions. Other objects are to provide cornice plate and roof details, ridge beam and king post details,'window framing details, door framing details, etc.

All constructional details relating to log structure effects are features of the invention, along with the structures for roof and side walls per se.

Another important object is to provide water proof wall and roof structures without the necessity for chinking between the logs. Heretofore it has been necessary either to specially shape the logs to fit one another at their meeting points, in order to obtain a water proof structure, or it has been necessary to use some lastic material to close the joints particular y if the logs are merely abutted in tangential relation.

It is desirable for the better class oflog house, that the inside have exactly the same appearance as the outside, and that the effect be that of a structure composed of the entire log. If desired, the logs may be peeled, that is stripped of their bark, and the surface is thus left so that it can be easily,

finished by varnishing, in case a natural, finish is desired, or by painting in case a more colorful finish is desired.

The log house building is, in certain parts of the country, an important industry, and heretofore it has always been necessary, when building such a structure (as distinguished from make-believe log houses constructed by merely nailin rounded pieces of lumber to sheathing, to o tain the log house effects on both inner and outer surfaces) to use some plastic material to seal the cracks between adjacent partially abutted logs, or other wall forming elements. In the practice of the present invention this is not neces:

sary.

A valuable feature of the invention is the log roof which is not only practicable, but the building of which is believed to have never before been successfully accomplished by means of logs alone, full .or segmental.

Advantages will be pointed outin the de-fscription of the drawings forming a part of this application, and in said drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a habitation constructed in accordance with the teaching:

of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the dwelling;

Figure 3 is a plan section substantially on line 33 of Figure 2; Figure 4. is aplan view of the floor frammg Figure 5 is a vertical section substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 2 through the ridge;

Figure 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a top plan of the king postand beam in relation to the wall and cap plates;

. Figure 8 is a vertical section substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a cross-section through the roof on line 9-9 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a vertical section through a window showing head and sill details;

Figure 11 is a horizontal section through a window, showing joint and mullion details;

Figure 12 is a sectional perspective of the window sill;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the side wall-forming logs;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of one of the side wall corner-forming logs;

Figure 15 is'a plan view of the log-like extension ridge beam and associated parts;

Figure 16 is a perspective view 0 the loglike extension ridge beam. and associated parts; I

Figure 17 is a plan view including the loglike extension plate and associated parts;

Figure 18 is a perspective view 0 the loglikeextension plate;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the loglike extension plate and associated parts;

Figure 20 is a detail of the inside log jamb for the window;

Figure 21 is a detail of the outside log jamb for the window;

Figure 22 is an inside face view of one type of door;

Figure 23 is a plan section on line 23--23 of Figure 22;

Figure 24 is an end view of a log segment; ant

Figure 25eis an edge view of the log segment.

Numeral 1 indicates suitable footings upon which the floor framing elements are laid, these elements being generally indicated at 2, and forming no part of the structure claimed herein.

The floor plan corresponds, in this instance, to a dwelling having what may be considereda central room, generally mdic'atcd at 3, flanked on one side by what may be considered a closed porch 4, and flanked on the opposite side .by an open porch 5. The flooring is indicated at 6.

Referring first to Figure 5, and to the wall formation, see also Figure 3. Upright half logs are arranged with their flat sides contacting and overlapping. Thus, a series of inner and a series of outer half log members form the wall. The inner series 10 of half logs, have their lower ends 12 resting upon the floor, while the half logs of the outer series 13 extend below the floor and overlap or face or cover the vertical face of the end beam 15 (at the outer side) of the floor framing timber.

The log units have the form of half logs indicated in Figure 13 and comprise the semicircular or convex portion 16, which is always faced outwardly, flat portion 17, and

the tangent longitudinally disposed flattened portions 18, whlch are substantially perpendicular to the face 17, and parallel with one another. The construction of the log-like material used at the corners is indicated in Figures 3 and 14, and includes a-convex surface 20 of about 270 in extent, and is notched to provide the right angularly related flat .cut element, having a fiat side and a curvilinear side. It is evident that substantially similar log effects can be produced at both sides of the wall, by tangent cut elements which have curvilinear faces of less area than half 10 s. However, the preferred construction is a ull half log.

The walls of the structure are formed by lapped half round elements in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 12, the elements being suitably secured together by fastening devices (not shown) such as nails, which traverse opposed members of the inner and outer series of logs, It is to be noted, and this is a valuable feature of the invention, that the wall is formed entirely by half round or tangent cut pieces, laid in overlapping relation with convex faces alternately lyin at the outside and the inside of the wall. The faces 18 of adjacent elements being in contact and these meeting surfaces of two adjacent elements lying substantially centrally of the element which overlaps them and which they overlap.

The side element series 10-13, see Figure 5, are topped by a log-like plate, that is a plate which is made up of a plurality of elements including facing elements which simulate the rounded surface of legs (a feature). Referring to Figures 2, 5, 6 and 19. This plate is composed of a plurality of, in this instance two, superposed rectangular studding-like elements 2 5 flanked on the outer side by a substantia'ly semi-circular log section 26 and flanked on the inner side by a semi-circular log section 27, the elements 252627 being thus placed as shown in Figure 19 to simulate a log. The inner facing section 27 should be a. full half log section, and is of greater height than the combined heights of the studding elements 25, so that the slanting roof elements may rest upon its upper edge to make a neat closed joint, see Figures 2 and 8. Figure 19 is a sectional perspective taken at the corner of the building, and the opposite wall is also topped with a plate structure including elements 25'-25" corresponding to elements 25 above described. The lower element 2'')" in this instance, is shorter than the upper element 25" to provide a socket into which the reduced portion of an extension log 31 fits. The extensions 31 are shown 1n Figure 5. The facing elements 26-27 are applied in the same manner as previously described. The extension 31- is also shown 1n end View in Figure 1.

Another feature of the invention is best illustrated in Figures 5, 15 and 16, and relates to an extension ridge beam structure. This beam throughout the larger portion .of 1ts length comprises two superposed studdm elements respectively designated 40- 41 an a lower element 42 having its lower race rounded to simulate a section of a log. At the ends of this beam the bottom element 42 extends beyond the middle element 41, and the top element 40 extends beyond both, see Figure 15, and the elements 4042 define a horizontally longitudinally disposed end socket 43 into which is fitted the reduced extension 44 of an extension beam 45. Thls extenslon beam has a shoulder 47 engaged by theend 48 of the top element 40, and is further provided with a shoulder 49 spaced from the end 50 of the lowermost element 42 to provide a socket 51 adapted to receive the upper portion of the side wall of the building to prevent lengthwise motion of the ridge beam. The elements are secured together by nails, not shown. 1

Another feature of the invention relates to the window framing, and the constructions for carrying out full log effects by the use of log segments. Referrmg to F gures 2, 10, 11, 12,20 and 21. The inner serles of wall logs is indicated at 10, while the outer series is indicated at 13, and these walls are formed in a novel manner to rovide a window opening. Referring to be seen that the logs 57 are out out or recessed as at 67 to receive the window frame. They are cut out so that (see Figure 11) the log segments 55 of the outer series 13 of wallforming elements extend beyond the vertical faces of these recesses 67 to form jambs. The

window frame is arranged in this opening with its side faces engaging the recesses 67, and with the outer edges engaging against the jambs 55. Therefore, the elements 57 are half log segments above and below the wmdow, see Figure 2, but are substantially quarter log sections Where they contact the side elements 56 of the window frame,

Another feature, which relates to the Window construction and to the carrying out of the log effects at the outside of the wall, is best shown in Figures 10, 12, 20 and 21. Each j amb 55, see Figure 21, is notched as at 60 and the top-and bottom and quarter section logs 61, are horizontally arranged as shown and have beveled ends fitting the notches 60. The quarter section elements 61 extend above the top 62 of the inner series 10 of the wall forming logs to provide a shoulder 63. The sill element 64 of the winigure 2, it will dow frame abuts and overlaps this bottom uarter section cross piece as shown, and a tight joint is thus formed, as well as a water shed to the outside of the wall. The head element 65 abuts the upper cross element 61 substantially in the manner of the sill, but does not overlap the same.

Another feature of the invention is the construction of a water-tight roof. Referrin to Figure 9, the upper seriesof half logs of t e roof is indicated at 70, and the lower series at 71, Figure 9 being a horizontalsection on line 99 of Figure 2. This roof is composed of log sections which may be less than but are preferably half log sections having their fiat faces engaged in overlapping relation, with each flat face comprising two flat portions respectively indicated at 72-7 3 arranged at an obtuse'angle, and with the surfaces meeting substantially at the centerof the half log. The meeting point 74 of the flat faces 7273 lies at the engaging point of the corresponding pair of members of the opposed series of roof elements. Each roof element is cut on opposite sides to provide longitudinally arranged flat faces 75, and in this respect these faces correspond to the faces 18 of the elements shown in Fi ures 13 and 14, the purpose being to have t ese flat faces of contiguous elements engaged in a manner to make a tighter joint.

In regard to the roof, the engaging faces are formed to provide gutter-like structures. It is, however, evident that a water-tight roof can be made without this gutter-like formation. However, on the other hand it is seen that the gutter-like formation can be used in construction of the vertical walls, as well as in formation of the roof. Both uses are claimed.

Another feature of the invention is illustrated in Figures 2, 7* and 8, and relates to the securing of the tie beam which supports the king post to the plates. This tie beam is indicated at 80, and the king post at 81. First referring to Figure 8 which is an enlarged detail section generally correspondin to the construction which is also shown in igure 2 on a smaller scale. The inner series of vertical logs is indicated at 10 while the outer series is indicated at 13. The upper ends of both series of wall elements are capped by a plate consisting of superposed elements 25 flanked on the inner side by a half round log section 27, and on the outer side by the log section 26 having its outer surface rounded in simulation of the curved surface of a log. The reason for having the element 27 extended above the element 25 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 has been previously set forth. The present construction relates to the manner of socketing the terminals of beam 80 in the plates, which are composed of superposed elements 25. The plane of section of Figure 8 is substantially centrally and longitudinally of the beam 80. Referring now to Figure 7, the top elements 25 have their respective ends 82-83 spaced from one another to form a vertical socket, the bottom of which is formed by the lower element 25. Into this socket extends and fits the end of the beam 80, the lower side of the beam being notched as at 84, see Figure 8, to fit over and engage two faces of the lower plate element 25, or to provide a halved-together fit. It may even be said that the plate and element 80 have a mortised fit. The upper side of the element 80 is beveled as at 86 and one of the members 71 of the lower series of the half log roof-forming members engages flatly against this beveled surface 86. It will be seen that the elements of the structure just described are built and arranged to obtain log effects.

Another feature relates to the door structure, see Figures 22 and 23. Referring first to the horizontal section through a door, Figure 23. The inner series of log sections is indicated at 10 and the outer series at 13. The jambs for the door opening are indicated at 90 and overlap and extend beyond the terminal members 91 of the inner series 10 of the wall-forming elements. The door is composed of frame elements generally indicated at 92. Laid on the outer side and attached to this frame are half log sections 93. These/sections are abuttingly arranged,

and strips 94 placed at the inner side against their fiat faces to help to close the joints, although these joints are made tight by the means of the contacted surfaces 18, see Figure 13. The hingesare shown at 96.

It will be understood that all details are claimed which relate to the production of log effects, that is to the production of full log house effects by the use of log segments in which the log effect is obtained at both inside and outside. It is further understood that the combinations and sub-combinations of the parts are claimed because they relate to one and the same invention.

It must he remembered that a log tapers from one end to the other, or in other words, has, roughly, the configuration of a truncated cone. It is, therefore, necessary, after a log is halved, to trim the half section to provide the surfaces 18 and have these surfaces parallel. Figures 24 and 25 represent respectively an end view and a sideeleva tion of a log segment, and show how the surfaces 18 taper from one end of the log to the other, due to the tangent cutting of a log segment. Figure 25 is a projection of Figure 24. It will thus be seen that the area of the surface 18 increases from one end of the log to the other. When the logs are arranged vertically and the wider portion of the surface 18 is placed at the bottom, this is an added advantage because a greater amount of rain, for example, flows toward 1. A wall structure comprising two series of half log sections inner and outer, the members of one series having their flat faces in contact with the members of the others, and being arranged in. break-joint relation with the curved surfaces of the members of respective series facing in opposite directions, each log having its longitudinal edges flattened to provide surfaces which are substan tially perpendicular to the fiat face, said surfaces being engaged.

'2. A wall structure comprising inner and outer series of natural substantially half log segments formed only by sawing sections each providing a flat, and a rounded face, the members of one series having their fiat faces in contact with the members of the other, and being arranged in break-joint relation, and means securing the members together.

3. In combination with a wall. formed of inner and outer series of vertically disposed half log segments arranged in break-joint relation and with their fiat faces engaging and with the curved faces of the members of respective series forming the inner and outer wall surfaces, a cap plate topping the ends of the segments and composed of superposed elements faced on opposite sides with log segments having their curved sides facing outwardly, and a log as an extension of the plate having fitted connection with said rectangular plate elements.

4. A wall structure including walls at angles to one another each wall including two series of vertically disposed log segments, the members of one series having their fiat faces in contact with the members of the other, and being arranged in break-joint relation, and a vertical corner log having a vertical notch, the faces of the notch being in contact with corresponding flat faces of pontiguous members of the inner series of respective walls.

5. A wall formed of vertically disposed substantially half log sections arranged in inner and outer series and arranged in breakjoint relation with their flat faces engaged and being overlapped, said logs being arranged to form a window opening, the terminal half logs at opposite sides of the window opening forming jambs and being projected beyond the contiguous overlapping half log, said jambs being notched at top and bottom and having log segments fitting in the notches and connecting the jambs crosswise, and projecting beyond the upp 2r ends of the inner series of wall formin sections, a window frame having a head Slll abutting and overla ping the upper log segment, and havin a ower sill having a portion overlapping the lowermost quarter log to form a water-shed to the outside of the wall.

6. In combination with two .walls arranged at angles to one another, a plate overlying each wall, each plate being composed of two superposed elements, an extension element lying at the outside of the walls and aligned lengthwise of one of the walls and having a reduced extension lying upon the top of the corresponding wall and beneath the uppermost plate-forming element, the uppermost plate element of the opposite wall lying upon the top of said reduced extension, and said extension having a shoulder against which this uppermost element engages, and the up ermost element of the opposite wall being'a uttingly engaged with said last mentioned uppermost element.

7. In combination a wall formed of vertically disposed half logs having their flat faces engaged, and arranged in break-joint relation and to form a window 0 ening, the terminal logs on each side of t e opening constitutin jambs and projecting be 0nd the log with W 11011 they are overlappe a window frame arranged in the opening having a side elements abuttingly engaging the projectinlg portions of the terminal logs.

8. n combination a wall formed of vertically disposed half logs having their flat 4 faces engaged, and arran ed in b'reakjoint relation and to form a window 0 ening, the terminal logs on each side of t e o enin constituting jambs and projectin eyon the log with which they are over apped, a

window frame arranged in the opening having side elements abuttingly enga ing the projecting portions of the terminal ogs, and 10 segments filling the space between said si e elements and the logs which the terminal logs overlap, and having their convex surfaces facing outwardly.

9. A wall structure formed of vertically disposed substantially half log segments formed from natural logs only by sawing and arranged in inner and outer series in breakjoint relation and with their flat faces engaged, said logs having abutted flattened vertical surfaces which extend in a direction substantially transversely of the wall, the flat 60 surfaces being convergent from the lower to the upper end of the log.

10. log structure formed only of inner and outer series of tangent cut 10 segments having their fiat faces engaged an arranged 66 in break joint relation, with the curved surin break joint relation with the curved surfaces of the members of respective series faced in opposite directions, and means securing the segments together.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this fifteenth day of January, 1930.

HARRY A. MUFFLEY. EDWARD F. MoLEER. 

